KSE-100 Surges 1,776 Points, Hits Record Closing Above 157,900

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a remarkable session as the KSE-100 Index surged 1,776 points, closing at a record high of 157,953 on Thursday. This marked the first-ever breakthrough above the 158,000 level, with the index hitting an intraday peak of 158,083 and a low of 156,979.

Market Performance

·        Total traded volume: 553.9 million shares

·        Trading value: ~PKR 31.3 billion

·        Market trend: Strong buying momentum across major sectors

Broad-based investor participation fueled the rally, as optimism continued in key cyclical and dividend-yielding sectors.

Top Contributors & Laggards

·        Key laggards dragging the index:

o   ENGROH (-4.1%, -313 points)

o   NBP (-4.1%, -128 points)

o   MARI (-2%, -107.6 points)

o   BOP (-10%, -101 points)

o   UBL (-0.8%, -83 points)

·        Most active stocks by volume:

o   CNERGY (213 million shares)

o   BOP (62.8 million shares)

Sector-Wise Performance

·        Positive momentum: Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Exploration & Production (E&Ps), Banks, Cements, and Refineries.

·        Mixed trend: Fertilizers and Technology.

Outlook

The KSE-100’s rally reflects strong investor confidence and improving sentiment amid expectations of macroeconomic stability and corporate earnings growth. While short-term volatility may emerge after such a steep rally, analysts believe the overall bullish trend will remain intact.

For investors, fundamentally strong sectors including E&Ps, OMCs, Fertilizers, and Banks are expected to remain attractive given their consistent dividend yields and robust growth potential.